AUIS to Host Second Annual Commencement Ceremony in May

SULAIMANI, Iraq, May 29, 2013 ?/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS)?will host its second annual commencement exercises on May 30.

Nearly 1,000 family members, friends, and distinguished guests are expected to attend the event held on the AUIS campus. The ceremony will be presided over by Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Barham Salih and AUIS President Dr. Athanasios Moulakis. Featured speakers include His Excellency Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government; Mr. Douglas Silliman, Charge d'Affaires of the United States?Embassy in Baghdad; and His Excellency Ali Saeed, Minister of Higher Education for the Kurdistan Regional Government. Ms. Jwan Sarbast Kittani has been selected as a student speaker for her stellar academic performance.

Baccalaureate degrees in Business Administration, Information Technology, and International Studies will be awarded to 54 students. An additional 29 students will receive a degree of Master of Business Administration.

Most members of this graduating class have already secured positions in a wide range of fields, including banking and finance, construction, and the oil and gas sector. Among the graduates are an account executive at an emerging marketing firm based in Sulaimani; a lab technician at an international oil company with offices in Erbil; an analyst at a major investment firm in Baghdad;?and an auditor at a leading professional services corporation with offices throughout the Middle East.

Others are starting their own businesses or will pursue advanced studies in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.?Included among them are an Ibn Khaldun Scholar, multiple scholarship awardees at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS), and a fellowship recipient at Missouri State University.

The event, which will be held on the spacious and picturesque patio in the foreground of the University's administration building, begins promptly at 5:30pm.?An indoor reception for all attendees will immediately follow.

About AUIS
Founded in 2006, AUIS is Iraq's only private, non-profit university for public benefit.?Academic programs, taught in the English language by international faculty members, are designed to meet or exceed standards set by regional accreditation organizations in the United States.

Students at AUIS come from all over Iraq and represent the country's diverse ethnic and religious landscape. Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, Christians, Yezidis et al. populate the growing student body.

Mission Statement
It is the objective of the University to produce graduates of responsible character with the necessary knowledge and skills for professional and national leadership. Students will be prepared for successful careers in?a modern, pluralistic society and in a global environment. The educational programs of the University are designed to develop strength in critical thinking, the ability to communicate well, a strong?work ethic, good citizenship and personal integrity. Broad-based education, rooted in the American liberal arts tradition, as well as skill development is achieved at the University through teaching excellence, quality scholarship, and caring student services.

SOURCE American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/auis-host-second-annual-commencement-ceremony-may-162400852.html

modern family Jordan Pruitt real housewives of new jersey emmys emmys Kanye West sex tape torrey smith

After Oklahoma Tornado, Charities See Influx Of Aid

Kay James holds her cat as she sits in her driveway after her home was destroyed by the tornado that hit the area on Monday, May 20, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Okla. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Chris Landsberger)

Alli Christian, left, returns Jessica Wilkinson's dog Bella to her after finding the pet amid the wreckage of Wilkinson's home shortly after a tornado struck near 156th street and Franklin Road on Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Norman, Okla. No one was in the home when the storm struck. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Steve Sisney)

Kay Taylor stands with her dog Bailey in front of her house that was destroyed after the tornado that hit the area near 149th and Drexel on Monday, May 20, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Okla. (AP Photo/ The Oklahoman, Chris Landsberger)

Searchers working the Rancho Brazos neighborhood in Granbury , Texas, try to coax a mother dog to them while searching for unaccounted residents, Thursday, May 16, 2013. Ten tornadoes touched down in several small communities in North Texas overnight, leaving at least six people dead, dozens injured and hundreds homeless. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Paul Mosley)

Homeowner Brad Smith carries an animal transport case after finding the family cat hiding in a closet on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. Preliminary findings indicate one of the tornadoes that struck North Texas had wind gusts ranging from 136 to 165 mph. As many as a dozen twisters touched down across Dallas-Fort Worth. Thousands remained without power Wednesday and hundreds of homes were severely damaged. Officials reported more than 20 injuries, but no deaths. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Paul Moseley)

Maeghan Hadley, of One Day Ranch pet rescue, checks over a kitten pulled from under the rubble of a mobile home destroyed by Sunday's tornado in the Steelman Estates Mobile Home Park, near Shawnee, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. (AP Photo Sue Ogrocki)

Lisa Copeland, right, and Kacie Rose carry a dog to a safe place before a second round of storms approaches Friday, March 2, 2012 in Ooltewah, Tenn. (AP Photo/Chattanooga Times Free Press, Angela Lewis)

Residents of Petal, Miss., walk their dog through a tornado damaged neighborhood Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 following the Sunday afternoon tornado that caused damage throughout the community. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Betty Franke

Betty Franke reacts as she looks to her damaged house with her cat in Marysville, Ind., Saturday, March 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

This undated photo courtesy of the ASPCA/Mike Bizelli shows Virginia Anderson, 95, left, as she holds her cat Lucky while posing for a photograph with Tim Rickey, a Joplin native and senior director of the ASPCA's field investigations and response team, in Joplin, Mo. The tornado that slammed into Joplin, Mo., in May killed 160 people and thousands of pets. The ASPCA set up an emergency shelter next to the Joplin Humane Society and helped round up over 1,300 dogs and cats. In the month after the tornado, workers and volunteers reunited 500 of those pets with their owners, said Rickey. (AP Photo/ASPCA, Mike Bizelli)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, kittens look out of their cage at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

In this June 14, 2011 file photo, rescued dogs sit in their kennels at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. after surviving an EF-5 tornado that ripped though the city three weeks earlier. Shelter and care for more than 1,300 pets left homeless by the twister accounted for $371,857 of the $500 million in taxpayer assistance provided after the costliest tornado on record. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, volunteer Danielle Hanisee, from New Orleans, La. walks a dog past kennels at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A Limestone Correctional Facility official said Friday he believes one of his bloodhound tracking dogs was swept up by the March 2, 2012 tornado that damaged the prison. Old Bubba, as the young bloodhound is named, is safe and sound with a broken jaw but otherwise unhurt. (AP Photo/Tuscaloosa News, Dana Beyerle)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, Metta Butler, a volunteer veterinarian from Fayetteville, Ark. holds a sick dog at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Sarah Gunter, 6, hugs one of her two dogs in front of the family's destroyed home at the Pinaire Mobile Home Park in Wichita, Kan., Monday, April 16, 2012. A tornado slammed the southeastern side of Wichita with winds of 136 to 165 mph, uprooting trees and damaging or destroying homes at the mobile home park Saturday night. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Jaime Green)

Alyssa Coleman, 8, carries her dog Blackie Chan through the debris of what was her home in the Hide-A-Way Mobile Home Park in Woodward, Okla., Monday, April 16, 2012. A tornado struck the town early Sunday morning. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Nate Billings)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, a puppy looks out of its cage at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, kittens look out of their cage at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, a kitten looks out of its cage at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

James Litteral rescues his dog, Frisky, from his demolished mobile home on Noahtown Road south of Thomasville in east-central Davidson County, N.C. Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 An American flag marked the spot Thursday where neighbors and authorities found the body of a 3-year-old girl killed when a suspected tornado struck Davidson County. (AP Photo/News & Record, H. Scott Hoffmann)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, a kitten looks out of its cage at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Pricilla, a terrier dog owned by Dot Peek of Hattiesburg, Miss., walks gingerly around buckets set up to catch rain water from the roof leaks caused by Sunday's tornado, Monday afternoon, Feb. 11, 2013. Peek's home and that of her daughter sustained severe property damage from the tornado, as did many others living in the college town and some surrounding areas. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Bobby Mann and pets his dog, Zoey, after inspecting the fence of their home, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, that was toppled over by a tornado, that struck their neighborhood in Elk Grove, Calif., Monday. The pair had been in the outside when the tornado struck but were able to take cover inside the home without injury. Along with the damage to the fence, their home had part of it's roof damaged and several windows broken from the winds that reached speeds of between 90-100 mph. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

In this photo taken Monday, May 7, 2012, Suzanne Falkner stands with her dog Ginger and her grandson Hunter Johnson, 7, outside the FEMA trailer she shares with her son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren in Webb City, Mo. Displaced by an EF-5 tornado that tore through the community nearly a year ago, the family was among 600 tornado victims housed by FEMA across 15 sites around Joplin. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

In this June 14, 2011 file photo, rescued dogs sit in their kennels at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. after surviving an EF-5 tornado that ripped though the city three weeks earlier. Shelter and care for more than 1,300 pets left homeless by the twister accounted for $371,857 of the $500 million in taxpayer assistance provided after the costliest tornado on record. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

In this April 23, 2012, photo, Freddie Wooten and his dog Max stand in front of the storm shelter he built at his own expense in Henager, Ala., following the 2011 tornado. When deadly twisters chewed through the Midwest and South in 2011, thousands of people in the killers' paths had nowhere to hide. Now many of those families are taking an unusual extra step to be ready next time: adding tornado shelters to their homes. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

This April 3, 2012 photo provided by Trent Welch was posted on various social media sites after Welch and his family members found brindle boxer Oscar following a tornado in Forney, Texas. Juan Ventura Jr. held out little hope he would ever see his brindle boxer Oscar, that had been in the backyard when the devastating twister swept through Tuesday, leaving no sign of the pooch or his dog house. But he was reunited with the dog Thursday, April 5, after the family that found him posted his picture on social media sites and a third party made the connection between a media interview with Ventura and the boxer?s picture. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Trent Welch)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, a kitten looks out of its cage at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

In this photo taken Tuesday, June 14, 2011, volunteer Erica Iwinski, from Walnut Creek, Calif, gets a lick from a rescued dog at a shelter in Joplin, Mo. More than three weeks after an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, nearly 900 dogs and cats remain sheltered at the Humane Society, most of them unlikely to ever be reunited with their owners. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/oklahoma-tornado-charities-aid_n_3351836.html

soa andy williams andy williams Lady Gaga New Girl Avalanna Gigi Chao

Biologists take snapshot of fleeting protein process

May 30, 2013 ? Structural biologists from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have captured the first three-dimensional crystalline snapshot of a critical but fleeting process that takes place thousands of times per second in each human cell. The research appears online today in the journal Cell Reports and could prove useful in the study of cancer and other diseases.

The biological "freeze-frame" shows the initial step in the formation of actin, a sturdy strand-like filament that is vital for humans. Actin filaments help cells maintain their shape. The filaments, which are called F-actin, also play key roles in muscle contraction, cell division and other critical processes.

"One of the major distinctions between cancerous cells and healthy cells is their shape," said study co-author Jianpeng Ma, professor of bioengineering at Rice and the Lodwick T. Bolin Professor of Biochemistry at BCM. "There is a correlation between healthy shape and well-regulated cell growth, and cancer cells are often ugly and ill-shaped compared to healthy cells."

F-actin was discovered in 1887, but despite the more than 18,000 actin-related studies in scientific literature, biologists have struggled to unlock some of its secrets. For example, F-actin is a polymer made of many smaller proteins called monomers. These building blocks, which are called G-actin, self-assemble end to end to form F-actin. But the self-assembly process is so efficient that scientists have been unable to see what happens when the first two or three monomers come together to form the nucleus of a filament. The F-actin filaments inside cells are constantly being built, torn apart and rebuilt.

"Nucleation is critical for this continual building and rebuilding," said BCM biochemist and study co-author Qinghua Wang. "For healthy cells, nucleation is the starting place for robust shape. For unhealthy cells, like cancer, nucleation processes may play a crucial role in unregulated growth. That's one reason we want to better understand nucleation."

In 2008, Ma and Wang asked Xiaorui Chen, a graduate student in BCM's Structural and Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics program, to undertake the task of using x-ray crystallography to determine the structure of the actin nucleus. Her initial attempts failed, but the team finally hit upon the winning idea of creating two mutant versions of G-actin that could nucleate but not polymerize.

Native G-actin binds with one neighbor on top and one on bottom, and this top-bottom, end-to-end binding pattern is the key to forming long F-actin polymers. To foster nucleation without polymerization, Chen created two mutant versions of G-actin. One mutant could bind normally on top but not on bottom, and the other could bind normally on bottom but not on top.

"This dual-mutant strategy was the key," said Chen, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at BCM. "After that, we had to overcome problems related to forming and growing the crystal samples needed for crystallography."

Chen used a two-stage process to prepare the crystals. She first used high levels of super-saturation to spur initial crystal formation and then used a process called seeding to transfer the newly formed crystals to another medium where they could grow large enough for examination.

Once the crystals were prepared, they were analyzed with x-ray diffraction, which revealed the atomic arrangement of each atom in the nucleated, dual-mutant pair.

"We believe this dual-mutant arrangement reveals the most critical contacts involved in nucleation," Ma said. "For the first time, we are able to see how actin nucleation begins."

Additional co-authors include Fengyun Ni of both Rice and BCM, Xia Tian of BCM and Elena Kondrashkina of Northwestern University. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Gillson-Longenbaugh Foundation, the National Science Foundation, the Welch Foundation, the Department of Energy and the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/k-K_rGECRCw/130530170046.htm

p zynga Tropical Storm Sandy W S B H

Physicists Just Created the World's Most Precise Clock?Ever

We know that the universe is roughly 13.8 billion years old?give or take a few hundred million years. Which seems like a decently accurate reading. But a new pair of clocks, which can measure time at a 10¹⁸ fractional level, makes our own measurements look like child's play. To have the same level of precision as these twin timepieces, we'd have to be able to specify the age of the known universe to within less than one second.

Tweaking an already wildly accurate method of telling time might seem a tad excessive. But a single second didn't just arise as an arbitrary measurement?it's based on an atom's frequency. And accurately measuring this doesn't come easy. Anything from a stray electric field to any movement of the atom whatsoever affects the measurement?small sources of error, sure, but error nonetheless.

To overcome these complications, Andrew Ludlow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder and his team used something known as an "optical lattice clock." By bouncing a laser off a mirror, they're able "to create a standing wave of light which forms a lattice to trap atoms. This is a kind of eggbox in which the atoms sit." With the ytterbium atoms neatly trapped, the clock is free to zap them with a different laser and measure the electrons' frequencies. Leaving you with a clock that will only lose about one second avery 31 billion years. Not bad.

And their extreme sensitivity means that they can measure the gravitational redshift, a phenomenon in which time moves more slowly in stronger gravitational forces?meaning they can alert us to changes in height. But while current clocks can sense change mostly kilometer-wise, these new ones will be able to measure a shift in heigh even at around 1 cm. So these new clocks are ready to go right to work, particularly in fields such as hydrology, geology, and climate change in general.

Ludlow and his team may already looking to the next advancement in time measurement, but for now, this opens the door to some major advancements in our understanding of the world around us. Now if only there were a wrist-friendly version. [MIT Technology Review]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/physicists-just-created-the-worlds-most-precise-clock-510305355

joe flacco Go Daddy Superbowl Commercial 2013 michael oher superbowl score Harbaugh brothers ray lewis alicia keys

Cincinnati-Area Trio Get Federal Time For Peddling Bogus Sale Leaseback Ripoffs That Left Financially-Strapped Victims Booted From Homes, Unwitting Straw Buyer/Investors Drowning In Debt With Ruined Credit On Artificially Inflated, Underwater Mortgages

Men from Mason, Monroe and Covington were sent to federal prison for a foreclosure-rescue scheme that left victims facing foreclosure, bankruptcy and ruined credit, authorities say.

On Thursday, a U.S. District judge in Cincinnati sentenced Adam P. Moellers, 35, of Mason, to three years in prison and sentenced Gary P. Dailey, also known as Gary Klump, 33, of Covington, to a 21-month prison term. A third defendant, Perry Bensick, 37, of Monroe, was previously sentenced to a year in prison.

Moellers and Besnick each had pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy; Dailey pleaded guilty to a count of wire fraud, a news release said.

The men were involved with a company called American Equity Group.

Here?s how their scheme worked, authorities said: The company approached homeowners facing foreclosure and pledged to find buyers who would allow them to remain in their homes as renters and later repurchase their homes.(1)

The company promised investors that they could buy a property with no money down, collect rent for a year or two then sell it back to the renter at a profit.

But ?AEG inflated the sale price, put together fraudulent loan applications, and took out extra cash at closing,? the release said. ?The renters never purchased the properties back and the investors couldn?t afford to keep them.?

?As a result, the properties went into foreclosure with even larger loan balances and with investors/borrowers who did not appreciate the risk that they had undertaken,? Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Mangan wrote in a court filing.

The FBI calculated that in 2006 and 2007, the scheme caused losses of $6,849,460 to lenders; the court will decide how much restitution the defendants must pay.

?The lenders were not the only victims,? Mangan told the court. ?For the investors, they typically ended in bankruptcy or with ruined credit in exchange for a rescue plan by AEG that was doomed to fail.?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHomeEquityTheftReporter/~3/0Ii3tWvBA1Y/cincinnati-area-trio-get-federal-time.html

jessica simpson santa tracker happy holidays Stores Open On Christmas Day Santa Claus Feliz Navidad Netflix down

Constructive Feedback University Psychological Analysis

Take the transactional focus of each of the confrontations over school policy and compile them into a longitudinal study and you will see the psychosis that is present in the "Americanized Negro's Mind" regarding his assumed pathway toward EQUALITY THROUGH EDUCATION.

The positions taken by the NAACP serve as a key index to this psychosis.

IF YOU THINK TRANSACTIONALLY BUT FAIL TO SEE THE IRONY AS YOU LOOK AT THE LARGER TRUTH BY NOTING THE PATTERNS OF MIGRATION - YOU'D BELIEVE THAT THIS "BLACK FLIGHT PROGRESSIVE" IS MAKING SENSE:

Charles Rousseau wants the change. He moved his family to Fayette County 19 years ago for its highly rated schools and low crime. Its proximity to the airport and downtown Atlanta made it the ideal commute to Rousseau?s executive job with Fulton County government and his wife?s job at Delta Air Lines. He quickly immersed himself in the community, volunteering on the local library board and putting his public policy background to work on other community boards including a school board construction committee that oversaw SPLOST spending. But when Rousseau sought election to office, it was a different story. He ran for the county commission in 2006 and lost, joining about a dozen other black residents who?ve tried over the past 30 years to break through the at-large voting system. ?I lost by a large margin,? said Rousseau, who worked for Fulton 17 years before retiring as assistant director of administration in the general services department. ??It?s a great day and, equally, a sad day,? said Rousseau, now semi-retired, as is his wife. ?It?s sad that it took the court to force compliance on our governmental body, despite efforts to reach amicable compromises on our own.? ANALYSIS? COMPROMISE? ?WHAT COMPROMISE? For YOU To Get A Seat In Office And Thus Be SATISFIED? You are a CONSUMER of what was ATTRACTIVE to you in Fayette County and what was repugnant about the other school systems. (This is NOT a "Love It Or Leave It" statement. ? This is the REVERSE: ?Look at the IDEOLOGICAL THEORIES that are more favorable to you when the RIGHT-WING RESISTANCE is defeated and note how "THE STRUGGLE" is more important to people who think like you than is the COMPETENCY at RETAINING what you prefer when the CONSUMER becomes THE ESTABLISHMENT POWER. We Need Not Look At WHITE FOLKS Who Have "Flown Away From Mission Accomplished Zones" - WE CAN LOOK AT THE "Black Flight Progressives" Who Move But Need Not Admit That Their Preferred Ideological Distribution Of Governance Has FAILED TO PRODUCE THE CONSUMER CONDITIONS They Prefer) Dekalb County, Clayton County And City Of Atlanta Represent COMPROMISED EDUCATION OF BLACK PEOPLE! AJC: Reasons Vary For State's Low Graduation Rates Comment: ?Despite all of the coverage of the problem school districts in Metro-Atlanta and then the NAACP lawsuit against Fayette County (as well as the TRANSACTIONAL responses to RACIAL INSULTS - the content providers at the Atlanta Journal Constitution have expressed great cowardice at STITCHING IT ALL TOGETHER. The CIVIL RIGHTS PHARISEES that wield a big stick of intimidation - as they call everyone who disagrees with them "RACISTS" are allowed to retain their veil of OWNERSHIP (ie: run their PROTECTION RACKET) with respect to the Black Community. While the notion of VOTING RIGHTS permits a constituency to CHOOSE THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP - the MEDIA has failed to pierce this protection racket - identifying the UNDERDEVELOPED BLACK STUDENT who is encamped inside of a school system who's LEADERSHIP IS PLEASING to the Civil Rights Pharisees as a VICTIM of the misappropriation of the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT - which has been picked apart by opportunist seeking vultures and is now a bunch of hollow bones, floating down the Chattahoochee River. From The AJC Article: Riverdale High School in Clayton County had a 2012 four-year graduation rate of 43 percent. Another school in that district, Forest Park High, had a graduation rate of 48.7 percent. DeKalb?s McNair High ? whose graduates Tuesday were addressed by Gov. Nathan Deal at the Georgia World Congress Center ? had a four-year graduation rate just shy of 47 percent in 2012. And in Atlanta Public Schools, more than a quarter of the high schools whose graduation rates were calculated in 2012 had rates below 50 percent. In stark terms, that means 2012 graduation ceremonies at those schools included fewer than half of the students who might have marched with their freshman classmates. IN WHICH DISTRICTS ARE "THE SCHOTT FOUNDATION REPORT'S FINDINGS" MOST EVIDENT? Now WHERE DO YOU SEE THE LEGAL ACTIONS FROM CIVIL RIGHTS PHARISEE BEING APPLIED? Are There Any More Questions About WHERE AND WHO The Problem Is, The Force Of Distraction That Is STEALING THE BLACK COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT THRUST? We See What The Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive-Fundamentalist Racism Chaser VALUES More Than The Competency To Actually Deliver What He Has SOLD The Black Masses Upon For Many Decades. They Want To Compel "The Blacks" Who They Are Failing To Develop To FIGHT WITH THEM To Protect "The Black Elected Seats Of Power". ? In The Perversion Of The "Struggle Motion" - The People Fail To See That They FIGHT TO RETAIN THE STATUS QUO. From The AJC Article 20.1 percent of Fayette?s population is black, with most black residents in the northern half.? Fayetteville, in the northeast, is 24 percent black? Tyrone, on the northwest border, is a third black. Of the 180 school districts in the state, Fayette is one of only 20 with at-large elections for all board members.? ?Significantly, no African-American has ever been elected to the [board of education ]or [board of commissioners],? Batten said. ?This weighs heavily in favor of vote dilution.? WHY ARE WE FOCUSING UPON "BLACK PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GET ELECTED" rather than the CONDITIONS THAT RESULT AFTER "Favorable People Are In Power" AND How THE NAACP DOESN'T SUE THEIR FRIENDS IN POWER - REGARDLESS OF THE DAMAGE TO BLACK PEOPLE'S "ADVANCEMENT" That Is Found? ANSWER - THIS IS NOT ABOUT "DEVELOPING THE BLACK COMMUNITY" THIS IS ONLY ABOUT DEVELOPING: Progressive Fundamentalism The Democratic Party WITH THE KNOWLEDGE That The "Americanized Negro" Will Go Along, Never Asking "Where Is The Money That We Gave To You For Our Advancement"?

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE FOOL'IN?

Battle	Background	Remedy?
NAACP North Carolina Versus Wake County School Board	Wake County School System: Black 31% White 52% District Racial Make Up In Line With State Averages (Schools Still Segregated Along Residential Lines) The NAACP Fought Against The Dismantling Of The School Busing Program Within Wake County As They Argued That ALL SCHOOLS Must Share Their Black Kids Poverty. The COMMUNITY SCHOOLS In The Black Neighborhoods Were Not Conducive To Quality Education For Black People Rev William Barber - President Of The NAACP Of North Carolina	FIGHT Against The White Right-Wing School Board Of Wake County As They Seek To Deny Black Children A Quality Education BY Using The Argument Of "Spreading Poverty Around Equally". In Truth This Is To Cover Over The Fact That The COMMUNITY AT HAND Is Incompetent At PRIORITIZING A FOCUS ON Long Term EDUCATIONAL PROCEEDS Sufficient Enough To Break The Immediate Discipline Problems. The NAACP Continuously Shows That By Generating CONGREGATIONAL UNITY Among Black People Perpetual External Struggle Against The Right Wing - THIS Can Temprarily Mask This Body Of Thought's Incompetence At Achieving DISCIPLINED FOCUS Through Educational Pursuits IN ALIGNMENT With The Need For More "Professional Services Agents" To Be Developed Within The Black Community To SERVICE THE PEOPLE UP TO THE DESIRED STANDARD OF LIVING.
The NAACP Versus Fayette County Georgia?	Fayette County School District Racial Makeup Blacks: 24% White 62% School District Has More Whites And Fewer Blacks Than The State Average Fayette County has an "All At-Large" Voting System In Which Every Voter In The County Chooses The Composition Of The County Commissioners And The School Board. This system that has effectively reduced FACTIONALISM by artificially created district boundaries has served the county well when it was a majority White county. ?Today the NAACP sees this system as a VIOLATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT because it functionally reduces the chances that Black (Progressive) residents of the county will elect a Black (Progressive Democrat) to the county board or school board. Fayette County has received its share of "Black Flight Progressives". ?As Clayton County and Atlanta Public Schools face problems - Black head of households make use of Internet based real estate research tools that point them toward Fayette County (and Gwinnett and Cobb County) as favorable alternatives for their children's education.	The Fayette County NAACP filed a federal lawsuit against the county and the school board seeking to get its "All At-Large" voting system deemed illegal. The court found in favor of the NAACP. The NAACP now proposes a MAJORITY-MINORITY district that swoops across the northern portion of the county and down the western boundary. The NAACP is loathed to mention that this migraiton of Blacks into Fayette County has more to do with their REPUDIATION of the MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ZONE that they have vacated from (Clayton County, Atlanta, South Fulton, Dekalb County). Even though what some deem as "The Black Schools" in Fayette (Sandy Creek High School and Fayette High School) have significantly higher graduation rates for their Black students than do the schools that the NAACP are happy with in Dekalb, Clayton or Atlanta - it is the inability for them to elect a FAVORABLE CANDIDATE on the school board that has provoked the NAACP to take Fayette County to court. (Please retain the nugget of information about how FAVORABLE PEOPLE IN POWER is more important to the NAACP than is the QUALITY OF EDUCATION received by Black kids. ?This is the result that is concluded once all of these transactional issues are stitched together)
The Black Press Versus Gwinnett County	Gwinnett County Racial Make Up White: 35% Black 28% Hispanic 22% Asian 11% Gwinnett is the largest school system in Georgia and represents the racial diversity that the state is shifting toward. (Ironically despite being diverse and HIGH RATED ACADEMICALLY - the lack of DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP of the schools and county - is problematic to the Civil Rights Pharisees)	The relationship between the "Civil Rights Pharisees Of Metro-Atlanta" and the leadership at the Gwinnett County Schools has been strained for several decades. The all-White leadership of the county is seen as problematic by the forces that operate under the guise of "Diversity" to insert their voices into power - while ultimately evading culpability for the end results. ?(Yup - I am inserting strong opinion into my "reporting" - just like you do, except I don't claim to be a journalist.) Several years ago when the Gwinnett Schools superintendent joked that there are not sufficient number of Blacks in Utah to make a difference in the disciplinary records for the school system - the Gwinnett NAACP claimed this to be a RACIST SLIGHT, that rose to the level of TERMINATION. A few years ago when middle school students were given "Slavery Homework" - math problems infused with references to slavery - the Civil Rights Pharisees packed in their cars from the south side and held a protest march outside of the school in Gwinnett County. ? When they learned that a Hispanic teacher had created the homework sheet they still were not satisfied because the White folks in the Administration should have caught the offensiveness of the exercise. In a recent two part series "The Atlanta Voice" newspaper did a fly over of the problems "City Of Atlanta Public Schools" and "The Dekalb County Public Schools" to voice their concerns about the ALL WHITE elected leadership in GWINNETT COUNTY. ?Despite the DIVERSITY in the ranks of Blacks, Hispanics and Asians - there has not been a UNITY CONFERENCE candidate to topple the "White trust" upon power. Beyond the fact that Gwinnett County Schools has a higher rate of BLACK student graduation rates than the "Mission Accomplished School Systems" that "The Atlanta Voice" are most proud of - we need to make special note of the economic prowess of the other allies in the "Unity Conference". The Asian Community in Gwinnett County has a bustling retail, restaurant and cultural center on Pleasant Hill Road and the northern part of Buford Highway The Hispanic Community in Gwinnett County has a similar arrangement on the remaining stretches of Buford Highway, extending down into Dekalb County. The ATLANTA VOICE can't imagine that for the Asian and Hispanic partners they have something going for themselves OTHER THAN POLITICS to invest so much in VOTING FOR THEIR SALVATION as the journalists at The Voice rail upon them to do.
The Fight Against The "Super White Cities" Of Fulton County That Threaten To Split Off Into Milton County
Dekalb County / Clayton County / City Of Atlanta Public Schools - Our Friends In Leadershp Positions	Dekalb County Schools - 73% Black Clayton County Schools - 73% Black Atlanta Public Schools - 83% Black

ANALYSIS?

The Perversion Of "Non-White White Supremacy" As Misapplied Into POWER IN LEADERSHIP At The Expense Of The School Students

I cannot blame the EMBEDDED CONFIDENCE MEN.

The blame must go to the "Black Rank & File" that are allowing the molestation and diversion of their "Black Community Development Consciousness And Resources" as such.

The AMERICAN COURT SYSTEM Is A Forum That Allows AMERICAN CITIZENS To Resolve Their Differences - ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Within The Black Community Development Consciousness - THERE EXISTS A MASSIVE VOID IN GOVERNANCE - By Which THE MASSES OF THE RANK & FILE, Seeing The ABORTED UPLIFT Of Their Condition AFTER DECADES OF INVESTMENTS Of Their "Black Community Development Hopes" INTO THE MALCOLM X POLITICAL Football Game are compelled to see:

• WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE -?
• It is MORE IMPORTANT To Know WHAT YOU CAN'T "VOTE FOR YOUR SALVATION" To Achieve
• Instead You Must Master The Art Of LIMITING YOURSELF FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPLOITS AT YOUR EXPENSE.
• This Requires The Consciousness To REFUSE TO YIELD YOUR ENTIRE PERSON To A Cause Because The Sober Part Left Out Is Necessary To Keep Watch Over Your Interests

In The Black Community "The 1%" Are The Elected Leadership And The Entertainers Who Advance The Black Progressive Fundamentalist Agenda - Every One Else Is Expected To Live Vicariously Through Their Growth In Power As THEIR POWER Is Sold As "Black Power" - When In Truth It Is OUTSOURCING Of "The Black Community Governance Culture"

In The "Dr King"?Vernacular?- ?Andrew Young was told to stay out of the march so that when everyone else got arrested he was free to summon the forces for HELP in getting the protesters released.

Today's perversion of these terms seeks to?have?all "Americanized Negroes" compelled to VOTE FOR THEIR SALVATION with the ACT OF VOTING as a DEFENSIVE MEASURE - so that the Rank & File never gets around to asking their elected leaders: "Where Is The Money That We Gave To You For Our Development For So Many Years? ?I'ma Cut Someone And Go To The Same Jailhouse That The Civil Rights Leaders Went To. ?You All Are So Perverted That YOU'LL COME BACK TO ME And Get Me To Sign A Voter Registration Card And Vote From Within My Cell Block Because My Rights Are Being Suppressed."

Source: http://withintheblackcommunity.blogspot.com/2013/05/constructive-feedback-university_29.html

tesla linkedin linkedin oj simpson chicago bulls barbara walters 24

Amanda Bynes Tells Her Version of Arrest Story

You'd think that getting arrested might have been a wake-up call for Amanda Bynes. No such luck.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/amanda-bynes-tells-her-version-arrest-story-denies-rihanna-tweets/1-a-537435?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Aamanda-bynes-tells-her-version-arrest-story-denies-rihanna-tweets-537435

Daily Show provisional ballot rush limbaugh rush limbaugh karl rove Election 2012 Results polling place

Incoming Rutgers AD has no plans to resign

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) ? Julie Hermann is not resigning as Rutgers' incoming athletic director following a report that 16 years ago she humiliated and emotionally abused players while coaching the women's volleyball team at Tennessee. And the university is standing behind her.

"I never considered withdrawing because I feel very qualified to lead Rutgers into the future and into the transition into the Big Ten," Hermann said Monday during a conference call in response to a report in the Star-Ledger of Newark. "And I do feel the support of the Rutgers community."

Embattled Rutgers President Robert Barchi said in a statement the university looks forward to her running the athletic department. He added that she was the best of the 63 candidates interviewed for the job of succeeding Tim Pernetti.

"Rutgers was deliberative at every stage of this process," Barchi said. "Over the course of the search, Julie's record established her as a proven leader in athletics administration with a strong commitment to academic success as well as athletic excellence, and a strong commitment to the well-being of student athletes.

Despite the Star-Ledger report, Barchi said Hermann's entire career is stellar and "We remain confident that we have selected an individual who will work in the best interests of all of our student athletes, our athletics teams, and the university."

Speaking to four reporters on a conference call in which each participant was allowed two questions, Hermann denied having knowledge of a letter written by the 15 players on Tennessee's volleyball team. She said her former boss never heard of it and she never heard her former players make the allegation.

Rutgers officials have talked to her about it in recent days, she said.

Hermann acknowledged she was an intense coach and may have made a few mistakes handling her team. The 49-year-old administrator said she has matured and believes she is qualified to lead the scandal-marred Rutgers program. Her first day on the job is June 17.

It was Hermann's first comments since the Star-Ledger's story Sunday revealed that the Tennessee volleyball team in 1996 sent a letter to the school in which the players said Hermann called them "whores, alcoholics and learning disabled."

Hermann left the following year to work with the United States national volleyball team.

"As I recall, Julie Hermann did not continue as our head coach only due to a lack of significant improvement in her final season overall record with the Lady Vol volleyball program," former Tennessee athletic administrator Debby Jennings wrote in a message to the AP.

Jennings filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Tennessee last September alleging age and sex discrimination led to her forced retirement at the age of 57 in May 2012.

In the past two days, state lawmakers have criticized Hermann's hire and Gov. Chris Christie has said he will speak with school officials about the report. Barring a resignation, only the university's board of governors can withdraw Hermann's appointment.

The governor appoints six of the board's 11 voting members and can wield pressure through a variety of ways, perhaps by threatening to cut school funding or refusing to renominate a board member who doesn't support his view.

With President Barack Obama scheduled to tour the New Jersey shore Tuesday to see the rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy, it is unlikely that Christie will turn his attention to Rutgers until Wednesday.

Former New Jersey Gov. and current State Sen. Dick Codey was furious with the latest controversy at Rutgers, saying officials made Pernetti the scapegoat after video of men's basketball coach Mike Rice physically and verbally abusing his players during his three-year tenure came to light in early April.

Rice, who initially had been suspended, fined and ordered to undergo anger management counseling, was fired by Barchi the day after the video was broadcast. Pernetti was forced to resign two days later.

"His successor is someone who is an obvious liar, a flat-out liar," Codey said in a telephone interview with the AP on Monday evening. "She shouldn't be the AD anywhere, whether it's Rutgers or anywhere else. She should stay in Louisville and not come back to the state, and Barchi should go to Louisville himself because he is not a leader. It's dumb and dumber."

Hermann believes she can be an effective leader at Rutgers, which also had several other key officials resign. And after hiring former Scarlet Knights star Eddie Jordan to become the men's basketball coach, the university mistakenly called him a graduate when he had never finished his degree.

"All of my life has prepared me to lead this organization," said Hermann, who would be the first woman to serve as Rutgers' athletic director and only the third female AD at the 124 schools playing at college football's top tier.

"Whatever mistakes you make as a young person, you've got to learn from them and go and grow," she added. "It is my intent to go to Rutgers with this vast experience of super highs and super lows and lead what I hope is an outstanding team into the Big Ten."

On other comments from the 10-minute call included:

?Hermann said the company that vetted her for Rutgers did ask about a lawsuit filed by one of her assistant coaches over a job termination.

?Hermann believes she can raise funds despite what has happened.

?Hermann denied the name calling, specifically when asked about calling the players "whores."

"That's not part of my vocabulary. ... Here's what I would say. Am I an intense coach? Absolutely an intense coach as many coaches are," she said. "But there is a big canyon between being super intense and abuse, and this was not an abusive environment for these women. Was it challenging? It was incredibly challenging. Was I aware that there were players that were unhappy? I was aware of that at the end of the season and I was unhappy."

___

AP Sports Writer Teresa Walker in Memphis, Tenn., and AP newsman Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/incoming-rutgers-ad-no-plans-resign-232535998.html

best cyber monday deals best cyber monday deals macaulay culkin Larry Hagman macys apple apple

Plug in tax savings for electric vehicles - Business Management Daily

Are you looking to ?go green? with your next vehicle purchase? Sadly, the tax benefits for buying hybrid cars are no longer available. But that doesn?t mean you still can?t drive a hard ?tax bargain? if you?re energy-conscious. ?

Strategy: Consider a plug-in electric vehicle. If the vehicle qualifies under the latest tax laws, you can claim a credit of up to $7,500. The credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax bill.

Although the tax credit for plug-in vehicles expired after 2011, the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) reinstated it, retroactive to the 2012 tax year, and extended it through 2013.

Here?s the whole story: The credit is equal to $2,500, plus $417 for a vehicle which draws propulsion energy from a battery with at least 5 kilowatt hours of capacity, plus an additional $417 for each kilowatt hour of battery capacity in excess of 5 kilowatt hours. The total amount? of the credit allowed for a vehicle is limited to $7,500.

The plug-in vehicle must be acquired for use or lease and not for resale. Also, original use of the vehicle must begin with the taxpayer claiming the credit, and the vehicle has to be used predominantly in the United States. For purposes of this credit, a vehicle is not considered to be acquired prior to the time that it passes to the taxpayer under state law.

Caution: The credit begins to phase out for a manufacturer?s vehicles when at least 200,000 qualifying vehicles have been sold for use in the United States (determined on a cumulative basis for sales after Dec. 31, 2009). Qualifying vehicles manufactured by that manufacturer are eligible for 50% of the allowable credit if acquired in the first two quarters of the phaseout period and 25% of the credit if acquired in the third or fourth quarter of the phaseout period. Vehicles manufactured by that manufacturer aren?t eligible for any credit if they are acquired after the phaseout period. So far, the phaseout rule is not even remotely an issue.

Tip: Find the latest available IRS figures on phaseouts of different models on the IRS website.

Like what you've read? ...Republish it and share great business tips!

Attention: Readers, Publishers, Editors, Bloggers, Media, Webmasters and more...

We believe great content should be read and passed around. After all, knowledge IS power. And good business can become great with the right information at their fingertips. If you'd like to share any of the insightful articles on BusinessManagementDaily.com, you may republish or syndicate it without charge.

The only thing we ask is that you keep the article exactly as it was written and formatted. You also need to include an attribution statement and link to the article.

" This information is proudly provided by Business Management Daily.com: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/35340/plug-in-tax-savings-for-electric-vehicles "

Source: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/35340/plug-in-tax-savings-for-electric-vehicles

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS Las Vegas shooting Jerry Buss Chris Bosh wife josh duhamel josh smith presidents day

Chevron targets Australia LNG expansion despite cost pressure

BRISBANE (Reuters) - Chevron Corp's $52 billion Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) development in Australia is now 60 percent complete and plans are afoot to start engineering and design work for an expansion by the end of the year, a company executive said.

Chevron also continues to talk with third-party gas suppliers for a potential expansion of its $29 billion Wheatstone LNG plant, Roy Krzywosinski, managing director of Chevron Australia, told reporters at an industry conference in Brisbane on Tuesday.

The Wheatstone plant in Australia is about 10 percent complete, he said.

The U.S. company's plans to continue pursuing LNG capacity expansion come amid concerns that Australia's high cost structure will discourage further investment in the $190 billion LNG industry.

Woodside Petroleum last month shelved plans for its $45 billion Browse LNG project in Western Australia, saying it will consider a floating LNG plant after deciding the onshore development did not make economic sense.

Gorgon, which will have a capacity of 15.6 million tons of LNG per year, is currently on schedule to ship its first LNG cargo in early 2015. The expansion is expected to add another 5.2 million tons a year.

Chevron is building a plant with a capacity of 8.9 million tons at Wheatstone, but the site has government approval to grow to a 25 million-ton hub. Wheatstone is scheduled to ship its first cargo out in 2016.

Krzywosinski, however, warned that Australia's high costs could impact the company's investment decisions going forward.

"Nothing is a slam dunk... the issue of cost structure is a significant issue, especially if you have an international portfolio of competing priorities," he said.

"You're not going to dump more money into an existing investment if you have a better alternative."

Gorgon LNG, which has seen a 40 percent cost hike, has about 65 percent of its LNG sold under long-term contracts, short of the 80 to 90 percent that LNG producers typically aim to have sold under long-term contracts.

"The closer we get to first LNG, the more valuable the volumes are going to be, so we're confident that we'll be able to market those incremental volumes," Krzywosinski said.

(Reporting by Rebekah Kebede; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chevron-targets-australia-lng-expansion-despite-cost-pressure-040156554.html

andrew luck andrew luck trent richardson robert griffin iii dontari poe space shuttle nyc monkeypox

'Crack baby' scare overblown, teen research says

CHICAGO (AP) ? Research in teens adds fresh evidence that the 1980s "crack baby" scare was overblown, finding little proof of any major long-term ill effects in children whose mothers used cocaine during pregnancy.

Some studies have linked pregnant women's cocaine use with children's behavior difficulties, attention problems, anxiety and worse school performance. But the effects were mostly small and may have resulted from other factors including family problems or violence, parents' continued drug use and poverty, the researchers said.

They reviewed 27 studies involving more than 5,000 11- to 17-year-olds whose mothers had used cocaine while pregnant. The studies all involved low-income, mostly black and urban families.

The review, led by University of Maryland pediatrics researcher Maureen Black, was released online Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

Widespread use of crack cocaine in the 1980s led to the "crack baby" scare, when babies born to crack users sometimes had worrisome symptoms including jitteriness and smaller heads. Studies at the time blamed prenatal drug use, suggested affected children had irreversible brain damage and predicted dire futures for them. These reports led to widespread media coverage featuring breathless headlines and heart-rending images of tiny sick newborns hooked up to hospital machines.

"The field of prenatal cocaine exposure has advanced significantly since the misleading 'crack baby' scare of the 1980s," the review authors said.

In recent years experts have mostly discounted any link, noting that so-called crack babies often were born prematurely, which could account for many of their early symptoms. Studies that tracked children beyond infancy have failed to find any severe outcomes.

In some studies included in the new review, crack-exposed teens had lower scores on developmental tests than other children but their scores were still within normal limits. Many studies found that the children's family environment or violence were directly related to the teen's performance regardless of whether their mothers had used cocaine during pregnancy, the researchers said.

The government's National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that it's tough to evaluate how drug use during pregnancy affects children's development because so many other factors play a role, including prenatal care, mothers' health and family environment.

____

Online:

Pediatrics: http://www.pediatrics.org

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2013-05-27-Crack%20Baby%20Research/id-f908c4711d1f41ccb8a3ffbdc9205305

the fray national anthem dallas tornado oikos kentucky wildcats oakland school shooting nike nfl jerseys katie couric

Krups EA9000 Automated Espresso Machine: Turn Your Kitchen into a Private Starbucks

You've been standing in line for 15 minutes already as the neck-beards behind the counter discuss the high points of the latest Vampire Weekend release. Do you really pay $5 a cup to put up with this shit? Instead, invest your hard-earned cash in a barista that will get your order right every, single, time.

What Is It?

It's a barista in a box?a self-contained coffee grinder, drip/espresso maker, and milk frother.

Who's It For?

Folk that want pro-quality lattes without having to endure the unwashed masses at the local coffee house.

Design

Sleek and modern, the complete opposite of the hissing stainless steel monstrosities at the coffee shop, the EA 9000 fits easily onto a kitchen or office counter and runs on a 220V power supply. The water tank is hidden behind the front right panel while the front left conceals the coffee ground ejection tray and cleaner solution pump. The integrated grinder is fed through a hopper on the top of the machine, and the pre-ground hopper is located directly in front of that, accessible via an activation button on the right of the unit's touchscreen display. Coffee and espresso are ejected from a height-adjustable dual-outlet spout and the milk frother is stored behind the filling station.

Using It

Oh wow. Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow. Setup was easy; take it out of the box, install the water tank, ground collector, and drip tray, and turn it on. You'll have to input a bit of initial information?your relative water hardness, for example?but that's an easy task on the large touchscreen. All your commands and drink orders, in fact, are input through the screen, save for powering on the device.

The EA9000 takes about half a minute to preheat after it's initially been turned on and will make a 30 ml cup of ristretto in 42 seconds, one 60 ml espresso in 45 seconds, a 180 ml cup of coffee in 1:05, a 300 ml cappuccino in 1:49, and a 260 ml latte in 1:57. This thing is phenomenal.

The Best Part

The consistency of the drinks is fantastic, every espresso and latte comes out tasting exactly the same as the last. Also the entire process outside of refilling the bean hopper and water tank is completely hands off and absurdly entertaining to watch in action. Plus, it delivers potent little nitrogen-packed discs of grounds at the end of the coffee making process which do wonders in the garden.

Tragic Flaw

There is always something that needs rinsing or washing or emptying or refilling in this machine. It seems you can't go more three drinks without having to expunge the drip tray or reload the water tank. It's exhausting.

This Is Weird...

Your cappuccino is always watching you.

Test Notes

• Strength of brew and size of serving are both adjustable from the drink order menu.
• Hopper holds approximately half a pound of whole beans.
• Water tank holds enough reserves for 4-5 large coffees. The integrated filter lasts an average of 50 tank refills.

Should I Buy It?

Do you have $2500 burning a hole in your pocket? If so, by all means yes. This thing is freakin' sweet.

Krups EA 9000 Specs

• Dimensions: 22.6 x 14.9 x 19.5 inches
• Weight: 25.7 pounds
• Operating Voltage: 220V
• Tank Capacity: 1.7 liters
• Coffee Varieties: ristretto, espresso, drip coffee, cappuccino, latte, warm milk, hot water
• Coffee Types: ground or whole
• Price: $2500 at Amazon

Source: http://gizmodo.com/krups-ea9000-automated-espresso-machine-turn-your-kitc-506708953

lsu football lsu football Jessie Andrews bloomberg bloomberg Daily Caller Staten Island

Freeman: Not sleeping, testing 'Google Eyelids'

Celebs

Randee Dawn TODAY contributor

2 hours ago

Morgan Freeman/Facebook

Morgan Freeman.

Listen to the voice of God: Morgan Freeman was not actually sleeping during an early-morning interview on Wednesday.

The 75-year-old actor was sitting next to Michael Caine during a chat with Seattle's FOX affiliate Q13, when he appeared to doze off as Caine spoke. The two were promoting their new film, "Now You See Me."

But seeing is not believing, Morgan wrote on his Facebook page late on Thursday.

"I wasn't actually sleeping," said the Oscar-winning actor. "I'm a beta tester for Google Eyelids. I was merely updating my Facebook page."

He added a photo of himself giving the camera the thumbs up.

Over 17,000 fans approved, leaving over 700 comments.

Earlier, he posted a note reminding people to watch him on "The Daily Show" Thursday night -- where he did not fall asleep. But his note hinted sleep could occur at any moment: "You won't want to miss me on 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart' tonight at 11pm/10 Central, it's going to be a good one. And set your DVR's too...just in case you fall asleep."

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/morgan-freeman-i-wasnt-sleeping-just-testing-google-eyelids-6C10062819

sprint britney spears At&t Wireless 9/11 Jerry Lawler andy murray

ReCAR 2013 : The 2nd International Conference on Recent ...

The 2nd International Conference on Recent Advances in Automotive Engineering & Mobility Research (ReCAR 2013)

Dear Professor/Dr./Researcher,

We would like to invite you to contribute an article(s) to ReCAR 2013 which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 16-18, 2013. This conference provides a venue for researchers and practitioners in related fields from academia, industry and government to meet in a forum where the latest research results are presented and prospects for future developments are discussed. The conference is organised by the Centre for Automotive Research (CAR), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

The ReCAR 2013 Organising Committee cordially invites submissions of high quality research papers reporting original work on, but not limited to, the following topics of interest:

Materials Characterisation
Computational & Simulation Methods in Automotive Applications
Experimental Mechanics
Advanced Manufacturing in Automotive Industries
Signal Processing & Automotive Electronics
Mathematical Modelling & Optimisation in Automotive Applications
Noise, Vibration & Harshness
Fuel & Combustion
Vehicle Dynamics & Control
Automotive Mechatronics
Automotive Design
Hybrid & Electric Vehicle
Green Energy Technology
Safety, Comfort & Ergonomics
Traffic & Transport
Standards, Policies & Regulations
Other Related Topics in Automotive Engineering

The deadline for abstract submission is 31 May 2013 and we invite prospective participants to visit our website www.ukm.my/recar/ for more information and further announcements.

Selected high quality papers will be published in the journals International Review of Mechanical Engineering (IREME) [ISSN: 1970-8734] and International Journal of Automotive & Mechanical Engineering (IJAME) [ISSN: 2229-8649], both indexed by SCOPUS.

All other accepted papers will be published in Applied Mechanics and Materials [ISSN: 1660-9336, Trans Tech Publications] indexed by ISI (ISTP).

Each registered participant will receive an android tablet containing complete proceedings and conference information.

Any queries should be sent to recar.gen.2013@gmail.com.

Looking forward to seeing you at ReCAR 2013 in Kuala Lumpur!

Check link below for a brochure and a poster.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/t2k7bcev9tw3r1i/-wL-9bTnqd

Source: http://www.wikicfp.com/cfp/servlet/event.showcfp?eventid=30912©ownerid=51275

atherosclerosis steven tyler tropic thunder carnie wilson missing reese witherspoon pregnant billy joel

Verizon and AT&T grow fatter in America as mobile prices plunge in Europe

AT&T Verizon Monopoly

American consumers are sleepwalking into being permanently locked to ever-rising phone bills from monolithic incumbents. This is exactly the scenario that the government tried to avoid when it broke AT&T into seven Baby Bells in 1982.?In France, the average mobile bill is now dropping by $7 a year. In America, the average bills from AT&T and Verizon Wireless keep rising as operators force consumers into texting bundles and sneak in new monthly charges. European incumbent operators are facing a consumer revolt as millions of Europeans switch to cheap challenger operators every month. American incumbents have no fear; AT&T and Verizon have locked in 75% of the smartphone market and keep growing.

[More from BGR: Why is AT&T milking subscribers for an extra $500 million? ?Because they can?]

Vodafone Spain has now started offering?250 free pre-paid minutes for anyone topping up their accounts with five euros. That is pretty darn desperate. Even as Vodafone?s stake in Verizon is delivering 30% profit growth year-on-year, Vodafone?s sales in Spain are plunging. In the first three months of 2013, 1.8 million Spaniards have switched from big carriers to small, dirt-cheap challenger operators. In the neighboring Portugal, average revenue per user of the dominant Portugal Telecom is down by nearly 11%.

[More from BGR: How one highly determined IT pro hit the limit of his unlimited FiOS plan]

The contrast between the mobile markets in Europe and America has never been sharper. T-Mobile?s share of U.S. smartphone sales has dropped below 10% as Verizon?s share is on pace to hit 40% by 2014. In France, where the overall economy has not yet cratered, the mobile price wars are just as vicious as in Spain and Portugal. A challenger operator called Free Mobile has now grabbed 9% market share while pushing the mobile revenue of giants like SFR and Vivendi into steep declines.

Can AT&T and Verizon continue cruising along, sticking customers with sneaky new charges while still increasing their smartphone market share? Probably. Both Sprint and T-Mobile have been caught in long, weird M&A dramas that have distracted them from actually competing. Both are now on the verge of becoming marginalized by the titanic Attrizon duopoly. There are no signs that anyone in America would dare to follow the hyper-aggressive pricing tactics used by European guerrilla carriers.

This article was originally published on BGR.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/verizon-t-grow-fatter-america-mobile-prices-plunge-165027304.html

chicago marathon Johnny Depp Dead college football rankings Steel Magnolias Niels Bohr the Rumble 2012 Columbus Day 2012

Newsline: France beefs up Africa, Middle East embassy security

France beefs up Africa, Middle East embassy securityFrance will invest about 20 million euros ($25 million) to increase security for diplomats and embassies in the Middle East and Africa after its mission in Libya was targeted by a car bomb in April, the Foreign Ministry said. Spokesman Philippe Lalliot confirmed an email sent by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to staff on Tuesday saying the measure had to be taken following the rising number of serious international crises and threats emanating from them. It will be financed in part by the sale of overseas real estate assets owned by France. France spends more than 500 million euros a year on managing almost 2 million square meters of property and land outside the country. The Foreign Ministry has increasingly been selling property in an effort to beef up its budget as the government looks to slash ministerial spending to meet deficit targets. It raised more than 120 million euros through sales in 2011, including its consular building in Hong Kong for about 50 million euros.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/22/us-france-embassies-idUSBRE94L0JI20130522

Like this:

Like Loading...

Source: http://diplomaticbriefing.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/newsline-france-beefs-up-africa-middle-east-embassy-security/

obama trayvon martin pietrus cheney tori spelling marion barber marion barber syracuse

Harry Potter book with author notes sold for $228K

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/harry-potter-book-author-notes-sold-228k-203815518.html

atomic clock john mccain game changer corned beef recipe rpi dst friends with kids

Jeremy Affeldt On Homophobia: I Was Wrong

Jodie Foster, 2013

The "Silence of the Lambs" star ended years of rampant media speculation when she casually came out of the closet while accepting her Cecil B. Demille award at the 2013 Golden Globes. "I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the Stone Age," she said in the speech. "In those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends, and family, coworkers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her."

Gillian Anderson, 2012

The "X-Files" actress <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/13/gillian-anderson-lesbian-relationships-out-magazine_n_1342801.html" target="_hplink">revealed she's had numerous relationships</a> with women in a 2012 interview with <em>Out</em> magazine. The 43-year-old mother of three, who's long enjoyed a sizable lesbian fanbase, told <em>Out</em> that she first had a relationship with a woman while still in high school, after moving from her native England to suburban Michigan. "If I had thought I was 100 percent gay, would it have been a different experience for me?" Anderson, who was voted "Most Bizarre" and "Most Likely to Be Arrested" in high school, ponders. "Would it have been a bigger deal if shame had been attached to it and all those things that become huge life-altering issues for youngsters in that situation? It's possible that my attitude around it came, on some level, from knowing that I still liked boys."

Anderson Cooper, 2012

Anderson Cooper's sexuality had been <a href="http://www.out.com/entertainment/2008/09/22/glass-closet">scrutinized for years</a> but it wasn't until July 2012 that he finally addressed the issue when he <a href="http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/07/anderson-cooper-the-fact-is-im-gay.html">came out in an email </a> to his friend and fellow journalist, Andrew Sullivan, this summer. In Cooper's message, which was posted on Sullivan's blog, "The Dish," on <em>The Daily Beast</em>, the CNN anchor states, "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn?t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."

Lana Wachowski, 2012

Award-winning filmmaker <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0905154/">Lana Wachowski</a>, who's best known for co-writing and -directing the "Matrix" trilogy with her brother, Andy Wachowski, is the first major Hollywood director to come out as transgender in July 2012. The Chicago native recently released "Cloud Atlas" and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/24/lana-wachowski-transgender-cloud-atlas-director-reveals-pain-suicide-attempt_n_2009112.html">received the Human Rights Campaign's Visibility Award</a> in October 2012, where she delivered a revealing and heartfelt speech (VIDEO).

Zachary Quinto, 2011

Long rumored to be gay, the actor, most famous for his roles on "Heroes" and in the recent "Star Trek" film, came out in a October 2011 <em>New York</em> magazine profile, saying: <blockquote>"In light of Jamey's [Rodemeyer] death -- it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it -- is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality. Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country."</blockquote>

Meredith Baxter, 2009

In December 2009 Baxter, most famous for playing Elyse Keaton on '80s sitcom "Family Ties," went on the "Today Show" and told Matt Lauer that she was a lesbian. Baxter said, "Some people would say, well, you're living a lie and, you know, the truth is -- not at all. This has only been for the past seven years."

Frank Ocean, 2012

No mainstream black male hip-hop artist had ever come out until <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/arts/music/frank-ocean-draws-praise-for-declaring-his-homosexuality.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">Frank Ocean did in July 2012</a>, just before he debuted his first solo album, "Channel Orange." The singer-songwriter posted a Tumblr post which read, in part, "4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide.? After that, Ocean received support from fellow hip-hop artists Jay-Z (and wife, Beyonc?), 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and more. Daryl Hannah, director of media and community partnerships for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said, "[The support for Frank is] an extension of the overall kind of support we?re seeing across the country for LGBT people, and not just in a broad sense, but specifically from iconic members of the black community.?

Wanda Sykes, 2008

The comedian and actress came out in November 2008 <a href="http://thestrippodcast.blogspot.com/2008/11/wanda-sykes-lv-gay-rally-im-proud-to-be.html" target="_hplink">while speaking at an anti-Prop 8 rally</a> in Las Vegas. Sykes said in part: <blockquote>"I got married Oct. 25, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation, I felt like I was living my life, I wasn't in the closet, but I was just living my life. Everybody who knows me personally, they know I'm gay. And that's the way people should be able to live our lives, really. We shouldn't have to be standing out here demanding something we automatically should have as citizens of this country."</blockquote>

Matt Bomer, 2012

The 34-year-old "White Collar" hunk <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/matt-bomer-comes-out-gay-thanks-partner_n_1272997.html" target="_hplink">thanked his partner</a> Simon Halls and his three children during Saturday's Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, where he received the New Generation Arts and Activism Award for his work in the fight against HIV/AIDS. "I'd really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry," he told the crowd. "Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment."

Anne Burrell, 2012

"Secrets of a Restaurant Chef" host Anne Burrell confirmed she's a lesbian and in a committed relationship with a woman, just days after "Chopped" host Ted Allen made a reference to her sexuality in a radio interview. "Anne doesn't feel she was outed," Burrell's rep told Page Six. "She has made no secret of her relationship." The rep went on to note, "Her significant other is a very private woman. They have been together for a couple of years and spend a lot of time together."

Adam Lambert, 2009

The singer's sexuality was always a topic of discussion for viewers when he was performing on "American Idol," but Lambert didn't come out until after the competition had wrapped. In a June 2009 <em>Rolling Stone</em> cover story, Lambert said, "Right after the finale [of "AI"], I almost started talking about it to the reporters, but I thought, 'I'm going to wait for <em>Rolling Stone</em>, that will be cooler,'.. I didn't want the Clay Aiken thing and the celebrity-magazine bullshit. I need to be able to explain myself in context."

Jim Parsons, 2012

<em>New York Times </em>scribe Patrick Healy confirmed "The Big Bang Theory" star's sexuality<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/27/theater/jim-parsons-prepares-for-his-lead-role-in-harvey.html?_r=1" target="_hplink"> as part of a profile</a>. The revelation came late in the article, when Healy describes the 39-year-old actor's role in the 2011 revival of Larry Kramer's HIV/AIDS crisis drama, "The Normal Heart." Wrote Healy: '"The Normal Heart" resonated with him on a few levels: Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said." Though the <em>Times </em>didn't identify Parsons' partner, he has been romantically liked with art director Todd Spiewak (pictured).

Laura Jane Grace, 2012

Punk band Against Me!'s lead singer made headlines in May with the announcement that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/08/tom-gabel-transgender-against-me_n_1501731.html">she is transgender and will be now known as Laura Jane Grace</a>. The musician, who shared her story in <em>Rolling Stone</em>, said "For me, the most terrifying thing about this was how she [my wife, Heather] would accept the news. But she's been super-amazing and understanding." The couple has a 2-year-old daughter.

Cynthia Nixon, 2004

The "Sex And The City" star was out-ed in 2004 when the <em>NY Daily News</em> and the <em>New York Post</em> <a href="http://www.afterellen.com/People/92004/cynthianixon.html" target="_hplink">reported she was living</a> with another woman in September 2004. Nixon half-heartedly confirmed the rumors when she told the <em>Daily News</em>, "My private life is private... But at the same time, I have nothing to hide. So what I will say is that I am very happy."

Sam Champion, 2012

ABC's "Good Morning America" weatherman, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/fashion/weddings/patrick-abner-and-thomas-roberts-vows.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&ref=weddings">Sam Champion,</a>, not only came out of the closet in October 2012, he also announced his engagement to longtime boyfriend, Rubem Robierb, at the same time. <em>The New York Times</em> subtly mentioned the news in an article about MSNBC personality <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/thomas-roberts-married-msnbc-host-weds-longtime-boyfriend_n_1928841.html">Thomas Roberts' recent wedding</a>, where Champion and Robierb were guests. After his revelation, Champion, 51, discussed about his plans on "GMA" and thanked everyone for their support (see video clip).

Kelly McGillis, 2009

Kelly McGillis, known as who starred opposite Tom Cruise in "Top Gun," <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1175410/Im-lesbian-declares-Top-Gun-siren-Kelly-McGillis.html">revealed she's gay</a> on lesbian website SheWired.com. McGillis, who was married twice to men and has two daughters, said, "It's a part of being true to yourself. That's been a challenge for me personally."

Chris Colfer, 2009

The "Glee" actor came out on the "Chelsea Lately Show" in December 2009: Chelsea Handler: "Your character on the show's gay. We know that you're gay. That's good for you. Congratulations. Don't be shy about that. Seriously. You shouldn't be shy about that because every time...an actor like you is helping a zillion other people that are scared to talk about their sexuality so good for you." Chris Colfer: "Thank you. You know what my answer to that question was prior to coming out -- was that I was straight as every other actor in Hollywood."

Ezra Miller, 2012

Breakout, up-and-coming actor Ezra Miller, who stars in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," <a href="http://www.out.com/entertainment/movies/2012/08/15/ezra-miller-im-queer">came out as queer in an interview with Out magazine</a> in August. The 20-year-old actor, who's also known for his big screen roles on "City Island" and "We Need To Talk About Kevin," told Out: "I have a lot of really wonderful friends who are of very different sexes and genders. I am very much in love with no one in particular."

Sara Gilbert, 2010

Sara Gilbert, who's best known for her role on "Roseanne," <a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/07/28/sara-gilbert-lesbian-the-tal/">officially came out in 2010</a>. At that time, she was getting ready to launch "The Talk," a daytime talk show which focuses on parenthood and families, so Gilbert felt compelled to acknowledge her sexuality. ?I don?t ever really think of things as out or in,? Gilbert said. ?I just think I am who I am, and when topics come up that are appropriate, I?ll talk about them and share when it seems right.?

Chaz Bono, 2009

Chaz Bono revealed his plan to transition in May 2009. TMZ.com broke the story <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/11/chastity-bono-becoming-a-man/#.TptSZ2VPkqU" target="_hplink">via a prepared statement</a> from Bono's publicist that read, in part: <blockquote>"Yes, it's true -- Chaz, after many years of consideration, has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity... He is proud of his decision and grateful for the support and respect that has already been shown by his loved ones. It is Chaz's hope that his choice to transition will open the hearts and minds of the public regarding this issue, just as his 'coming out' did nearly 20 years ago."</blockquote>

Andrew Rannells, 2012

Andrew Rannells has had a stellar year. Since nabbing a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for the Broadway blockbuster "The Book of Mormon," Rannells went on to star in HBO's "Girls" and ABC's "The New Normal." In November, the 34 year old was named to Out magazine's prestigious <a href="http://www.out.com/out-exclusives/out100-2012/2012/11/15/out100-andrew-rannells">"OUT100" list</a>. ?I feel very proud to be a part of The New Normal,? Rannells told Out. ?I hope that it?s considered to be a part of the evolution of gay relationships on television. Coming from Nebraska, it?s exciting to me that people I went to grade school with, people that I grew up going to church with, are watching the show.?

Joanna Johnson, 2012

"Bold and the Beautiful" star Joanna Johnson became daytime soap opera's only active "out" actor when she said <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/joanna-johnson-lesbian-bold-and-the-beautiful_n_1515489.html">she was a lesbian in May</a>. Johnson said she feared coming out would prohibit her from getting acting roles. Johnson told <em>TV Guide</em> in an exclusive interview that she's married to L.A. club promoter Michelle Agnew, with whom she has two children, five-year-old Julian and Harlow, who is two.

George Michael, 1998

After being caught performing a "lewd act" in a public restroom, Michael came out to CNN in April 1998. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9804/11/george.michael/" target="_hplink">Michael said</a>, "This is as good of a time as any... I want to say that I have no problem with people knowing that I'm in a relationship with a man right now. I have not been in a relationship with a woman for almost 10 years." Later that year Michael spoofed the incident in the music video for his single "Outside."

Don Lemon, 2011

The CNN news anchor came out to the <em>New York Times</em> in May 2011. Lemon <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/business/media/16anchor.html?_r=3" target="_hplink">told the paper</a>, "It's quite different for an African-American male... It's about the worst thing you can be in black culture. You're taught you have to be a man; you have to be masculine. In the black community they think you can pray the gay away."

Todd Glass, 2012

Comedian Todd Glass <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/16/todd-glass-comes-out-as-gay-on-wtf-with-marc-maron_n_1209291.html">came out in January</a> in an episode of the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast. Glass cited the slew of LGBT teen suicides as his impetus for coming out. He told Maron: "I cannot listen to stories about kids killing themselves any longer without thinking [to myself], 'When are you going to have a little blood on your shirt for not being honest about who you are?'"

Rosie Pierri, 2012

Everyone loves Rosie. In a June episode of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," Rosie Pierri candidly came out to her sister, Kathy Wakile, a main cast member, proclaiming, "God made me this way. That's it." Pierri <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/30/rosie-real-housewives-nj_n_1555421.html">spoke with <em>The Huffington Post</em> in May</a> before the episode aired and shared that she was a "late bloomer," who didn't come to the realization until her 30s.

Jonathan Knight, 2011

The New Kids On The Block singer was out-ed by fellow '80s teen pop star Tiffany in January 2011 when she revealed she dated Knight before "he became gay later." In response, Knight posted a message on his website <a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2011/01/jonathan-knight.html#ixzz1azmexp8H" target="_hplink">stating in part</a>: <blockquote>"I have never been outed by anyone but myself! I did so almost twenty years ago. I never know that I would have to do it all over again publicly just because I reunited with NKOTB! I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay!"</blockquote>

Sean Maher, 2011

Sean Maher, known for his roles on "Firefly" and "Playboy Club," confirmed his sexuality in an <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/09/26/firefly-playboy-club-actor-sean-maher-comes-out-ga/"><em>Entertainment Weekly</em> interview</a>, saying, "This is my coming out ball. I?ve been dying to do this.?

Ricky Martin, March 2010

In March 2009 pop star Ricky Martin <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/29/ricky-martin-comes-out-im_n_517625.html" target="_hplink">posted a message on his website</a> telling the world, "I am a fortunate homosexual man."

Sean Hayes, 2010

Long dogged by rumors about his sexuality, the "Will and Grace" actor <a href="http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/People/Sean_Hayes_I_Am_Who_I_Am/" target="_hplink">finally came out</a> in <em>The Advocate</em> in April 2010: "I am who I am. I was never in, as they say. Never," he said.

Lady Sovereign, 2010

In May 2010 the British rapper came out in <em>Diva</em> magazine. <a href="http://perezhilton.com/2010-05-12-lady-sov-comes-out#.Tpt-2WVPkqU" target="_hplink">Sovereign said</a>: <blockquote>"Magazines would always ask about it but [questions about my sexuality] would get stopped by my publicists. It was my choice, too, because I was a bit worried about it but now I don't really give a shit. You can't hide away forever. It's just stupid and now I've come out I feel a lot more comfortable with myself. But it was a bit scary back then because some people do have horrible opinions."</blockquote>

T.R. Knight, 2007

<a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20008737,00.html">T.R. Knight's coming out</a> wasn't necessarily ideal. The actor, who played George O'Malley on ABC's <em>Grey's Anatomy</em>, was called a "faggot" by co-star Isaiah Washington, prompting Knight to stand up for himself and others. He told Ellen DeGeneres, "I've never been called that to my face. So I think when that happened, something shifted, and it became bigger than myself."

Kristy McNichol, 2012

People magazine reported In January 2012 that Kristy McNichol, who was beloved for playing Buddy Lawrence in the '70s show "Family," for which she won an Emmy, and later Barbara Weston on the "Golden Girls" spin-off "Empty Nest," revealed she is a lesbian because she is "approaching 50" and wants to "be open about who I am." <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/kristy-mcnichol-comes-out-as-lesbian_n_1191204.html">McNichol</a> also cited the wave of antigay bullying stories for coming out, hoping to help bullied LGBT youth who need support.

Benji Schwimmer, 2012

After Benji Schwimmer won the second season of Fox's long-running hit series "So You Think You Can Dance," the 28-year-old dancer-choreographer became somewhat of a Mormon rockstar. But in a tell-all, five-hour interview for "Mormon Stories," Schwimmer came out and discussed at length his homosexuality and the church's views on the issue. He <a href="http://www.out.com/news-commentary/2012/06/18/benji-schwimmer-naked-truth-sytycd-gay-mormon-sexuality">spoke with Out magazine in June</a> and said: "I get at least 10 emails a day from kids that say, I was going to kill myself, and I heard something in the podcast that rang true to me, and I?m holding on. For that validation alone?it?s nice that Perez Hilton and Out are covering this, but just that personal touch is what it?s about. For the last year, I didn?t hide it. I held hands with a boyfriend in the streets. I kissed him in bars?in straight bars. I don?t give a fuck."

Clay Aiken, 2008

After becoming a father in August of 2008, the "American Idol" runner up <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20228488,00.html" target="_hplink">came out on the cover</a> of <em>People</em> magazine in September 2008 saying, "[Coming out] was the first decision I made as a father... I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that."

Orlando Cruz, 2012

History was made in October when active professional featherweight boxer <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/orlando-cruz-comes-out-gay_n_1939204.html">Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico came out</a>. He said in a USA Today article, "I've been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself. I want to try to be the best role model I can be for kids who might look into boxing as a sport and a professional career." He continued, "I have and will always be a proud Puerto Rican. I have always been and always will be a proud gay man."

Chely Wright, 2010

Country singer Chely Wright <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20365936,00.html" target="_hplink">came out in May 2010</a>. She told <em>People</em> magazine, "There had never, ever been a country music artist who had acknowledged his or her homosexuality... I wasn't going to be the first." But she changed her mind and said of her decision, "Nothing in my life has been more magical than the moment I decided to come out."

Mika, 2012

The flamboyant singer-songwriter played coy about his sexuality for many years before finally coming out as gay in the September 2012 issue of Instinct magazine. Mika <a href="http://instinctmagazine.com/blogs/blog/exclusive-sneak-peek-mika-tells-instinct-%E2%80%9Cyeah-i%E2%80%99m-gay-%E2%80%9D?directory=100011">told the magazine</a>: <blockquote>"If you ask me am I gay, I say yeah... Are these songs about my relationship with a man? I say yeah. And it?s only through my music that I?ve found the strength to come to terms with my sexuality beyond the context of just my lyrics. This is my real life."</blockquote>

Lance Bass, 2006

The 'N Sync pop star came out on the cover of <em>People</em> magazine in July 2006. When asked why he decided to come out then, <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1219142,00.html" target="_hplink">Bass said</a>, "The main reason I wanted to speak my mind was that (the rumors) really were starting to affect my daily life. Now it feels like it's on my terms. I'm at peace with my family, my friends, myself and God so there's really nothing else that I worry about."

Denise Ho, 2012

Hong Kong's fourth annual LGBT Pride Parade in November saw beloved Cantonese pop star <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/13/denise-ho-singer-gay-coming-out-hong-kong_n_2122773.html">Denise Ho come out as a lesbian</a>. This announcement made her the first mainstream female singer in Hong Kong to say she's gay, according to several Hong Kong media outlets. "As a celebrity, I think I have an obligation, a duty to stand forward for the sake of love and equality," the 35-year-old singer told the crowd.

Amber Heard, 2010

"I personally think that if you deny something or if you hide something you're inadvertently admitting it's wrong. I don't feel like I'm wrong," said actress Amber Heard, 26, who <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/06/amber-heard-lesbian_n_792419.html">came out while attending GLAAD's 25th anniversary party</a>. Heard has starred in movies like as "Pineapple Express" and "Zombieland."

Elton John, 1976

In <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/elton-john-lonely-at-the-top-rolling-stones-1976-cover-story-20110202" target="_hplink">an interview</a> with <em>Rolling Stone</em> in October 1976, the rock star came out by saying, "There's nothing wrong with going to bed with somebody of your own sex. I think everybody's bisexual to a certain degree. I don't think it's just me. It's not a bad thing to be. I think you're bisexual. I think everybody is."

Suze Orman, 2007

Financial guru Suze Orman came out in a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/magazine/25wwlnq4.t.html">2007 <em>New York Times Magazine</em> article</a>. The 61-year-old Chicago native was asked if she was married in the interview, which prompted her to officially come out and set the record straight (so to speak).

David Hyde Pierce, 2007

"Frasier" actor David Hyde Pierce kept a low profile and <a href="http://www.afterelton.com/blog/brianjuergens/exclusive-david-hyde-pierce-is-officially-out">subtly came out</a> in an article on <em>CNN</em> where he mentioned his longtime partner, TV writer and producer Brian Hargrove. Later, while on "The View", Pierce spoke about Hargrove and his sexuality and said,"What you choose to talk about yourself is a personal decision."

Neil Patrick Harris, 2006

The "Doogie Howser, MD" and "How I Met Your Mother Star" came out on the cover of <em>People</em> magazine in November of 2006. <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1554852,00.html" target="_hplink">Harris told the magazine</a>: <blockquote>"The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships. So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love." </blockquote>

Darren Hayes, 2006

The former Savage Garden front man came out by marrying Richard Cullen in June 2006. He announced the civil union on his website <a href="http://chartrigger.blogspot.com/2006/07/darren-hayes-comes-out.html" target="_hplink">saying in part</a>: "As so many of you have given me your heart and soul over the past 10 years I thought it only fitting that I too return the respect and inform you of the most significant event in my life... On June 19th 2006 I married my boyfriend of two years, Richard, in a Civil Partnership ceremony in London."

George Takei, 2005

The beloved George Takei, known as Sulu on "Star Trek," <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/9845944/ns/today-entertainment/t/george-takei-mr-sulu-says-hes-gay/#.UHWbJ0JAsu8">came out</a> in a 2005 article in Frontiers, a biweekly LGBT Los Angeles magazine. Takei, 75, cited the political landscape surrounding LGBT issues as one reason for coming out. Since then, Takei has been an outspoken (and humorous) advocate for LGBT rights.

Portia de Rossi, 2005

The actress had been out to friends for quite some time, but she told the entire world in the fall of 2005 in interviews with <em>Details</em> magazine and <em>The Advocate</em>. "I've had my years of being not open, many years of it... It's an honor for me to do this; it's just nice to be asked," de Rossi said in her September 2005 <em>Advocate</em> <a href="http://crispie764.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Urgent&action=display&thread=35" target="_hplink">cover story</a>, her first with the gay press.

Heather Matarazzo, 2004

The actress, perhaps best known for her role as tormented teen Dawn Wiener in the film "Welcome To The Dollhouse," <a href="http://www.afterellen.com/archive/ellen/People/82004/heathermatarazzo.html" target="_hplink">came out in August 2004</a> by telling the <em>NY Daily News</em> about falling in love with Caroline Murphy: <blockquote>"I met the person I'm so madly crazy in love with...She's not famous yet. She will be. She wants to do musical theater and stage, which is not as demoralizing as the movie business is."</blockquote>

Rosie O'Donnell, 2002

The comedian and talk show host <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-02-27-rosie.htm" target="_hplink">came out by revealing</a> "I'm a dyke!" during her stand up act at the Ovarian Cancer Research benefit at Carolines Comedy Club in February 2002.

Nathan Lane, 1999

The hilarious Nathan Lane, who's well known for starring in films like "The Birdcage," officially came out in an <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/37588/nathan-lane-comes-out-finally">interview with <em>The Advocate</em></a> in 1999. In the issue, the 56-year-old Emmy- and Tony-winner said, "It's never been something I kept a secret." But Matthew Shepard's murder led the actor to publicly coming out. "It was like somebody slapped me awake," Lane said. "At this point it's selfish not to do whatever you can."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/21/jeremy-affeldt-homophobia_n_3315623.html

supreme court health care joe oliver joba chamberlain new york mega millions jetblue jetblue michelle malkin